On the primary structure of human plasminogen and plasmin. Purification and characterization of cyanogen-bromide fragments.

Most of the cyanogen bromide fragments obtained from human plasminogen and plasmin have been purified using combinations of gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The purified fragments have been characterized by molecular weight determination (dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis), amino acid analysis, carbohydrate analysis and direct NH2-terminal amino acid sequence determination. Since some of the purified fragments were compounds with uncompletely cleaved methionyl bonds it was possible to clarify the organization of most of the cyanogen bromide fragments in the plasminogen molecule. The fragment containing the arginyl-valyl bond cleaved during the second step of the activation process is further identified. It is also shown that the microheterogeneity that normally exists in human plasminogen probably has its origin in several sites. One such site is situated in the light (B) chain of plasmin, while another is situated in the carboxyterminal part of the heavy (A) chain. Neither of these sites seems to contain sialic acid.